New licensing laws could cost pub landlords (From Warrington Guardian)

New licensing laws could cost pub landlords

LANDLORDS at disorderly pubs and bars in Crewe and Nantwich will be given eight weeks to clean up their act before being billed for extra policing.

And drinkers who receive three on-the-spot fines or convictions for booze-related trouble could be barred from local pubs and bars under new 24-hour licensing plans.

But Government ministers stopped short on Friday of introducing charges to all pubs to pay for extra policing to cover round-the-clock drinking licenses which come into force in November.

Under the new rules, bigger pubs in larger cities and towns will pay more towards the cost of the new licensing laws, through a rise in the cost of a license to sell alcohol.

The biggest city and town pubs have to fork out £1,905 for an initial application fee and also pay an annual charge of £1,050 to the local authority - a sharp rise from the previous £30 every three years to serve until 11pm regardless of venue size.

South Cheshire's landlords will have to pay a one-off payment between £100 and £635 for a new licence and a £70 to £350 annual fee.

Other changes introduced under the Licensing Act included police and Trading Standards officers being given the power to ban premises from selling alcohol for 24 hours if there is evidence they are persistently selling drink to under-18s.

And underage drinkers who attempt to buy alcohol will get on-the-spot-fines as will bar staff who serve drunks.

Government officials hope it will reduce the amount of booze-related trouble that occurs when large groups of revellers finish their nights at the same time.

By diluting the crowds that flock to fast-food joints and taxi ranks, a safer environment will be created, ministers believe.

The transferring of licenses from magistrates' courts to local councils comes into operation from February 7, with new trading hours starting in November.